Define 'Heavy Hunter' for me?!

[Corky]

So I have a big crossbred hunt mare that I’m looking to sell, and need to start advertising her. She’s half clyde, pretty light for a half bred but certainly is a solid horse that can carry a solid rider. But I’m not sure if she is truly an example of a ‘heavy hunter’. So what, to you, does this term mean? What excludes a horse, or what is the main criteria for being a ‘heavy hunter’?

What other terms and phrases do you use to describe these crossbred hunt horses?

Or, what terms have you heard, but aren’t sure how to define?

[jawa]

[URL=“http://www.google.com/search?q=heavyweight+hunter&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=hBMnT435Gcbc0QG_rLj2CA&ved=0CDkQsAQ&biw=1299&bih=991”]Heavy weight hunter photos

Lightweight Hunter:

The definition of a lightweight hunter can be a thoroughbred or cross thoroughbred, 16.1hh - 16.2hh, 8.5 inches of bone, to carry not more than 12st 7llbs.

Middleweight Hunter:

The definition of a middleweight hunter can be a thoroughbred of hunter type, ideally 16.3hh, 8.75 - 9 inches of bone, to carry up to 14st.

Heavyweight Hunter:

The definition of a heavyweight hunter is up to 17hh, 9 - 10 inches of bone, to carry 14st and over.

[URL=“http://www.occupationalhealth.co.uk/WeightConversion.htm”]Handy conversion chart for pounds to stone

[asterix]

OMG, did you actually follow that link to heavy hunters? Some nice looking horses…and some…other…photos…:lol:

[jawa]

asterix,

Yes, I actually followed the link. And scrolled down to the bottom.:eek::eek::lol::lol:

The upper part of the site is the part that had the photos I liked. I’m not the greatest with descriptive narratives and a photo is worth 1,000 words…or in my case many 1,000’s of words.

[Corky]

Ya some of the pics were, enlightening 8-O

So what is a horse over 17hh then? I always figured there was more than just height/bone requirements, go figure.

[altjaeger]

What do these inches of bone measure?

[Tamara_in_TN]

[QUOTE=altjaeger;6121842]
What do these inches of bone measure?[/QUOTE]

the distance around the cannon

I have often thought about breeding them specifically here in the States but I don’t think the market will ever be there.

Tamara

[wateryglen]

jmho !

When I hear the term I think full draft or half draft field hunter. To me it’s about the % draft AND shoe size maybe. Size 4 & above is a heavy hunter perhaps? 3’s maybe? I have half drafts with 3’s that I’d call heavy hunters…maybe.

[JSwan]

I LOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVE heavy hunters. Tamara, I agree but I bet you’d produce some lovely ones.

[Napoles]

Whether they are light, middle or heavy weight hunters is defined by the amount of bone they have as per the post above. The more bone a horse has, the more weight carrying ability.

I show light, middle and heavy weight hunters and all of these, to do well in the show ring would need to be at least 16.2hh. My best Heavyweight hunter was 17.3hh and built like a brick s*** house!

The first and most important thing though is the amount of bone the horse has below the knee.

[kookicat]

[QUOTE=JSwan;6128428]
I LOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVE heavy hunters. Tamara, I agree but I bet you’d produce some lovely ones.[/QUOTE]

Me, too. I’d take two of this horse:

http://www.nicomorgan.com/media/782ee632-f1cb-11e0-9d88-b74ccfca5681-topspec-heavyweight-show-hunter-of-the-year-hoys-2011

[Tamara_in_TN]

[QUOTE=wateryglen;6122014]
When I hear the term I think full draft or half draft field hunter. To me it’s about the % draft AND shoe size maybe. Size 4 & above is a heavy hunter perhaps? 3’s maybe? I have half drafts with 3’s that I’d call heavy hunters…maybe.
[/QUOTE]

my 14 hh welsh have size 3 feet
it’s all about the bone.

Tamara

[TrakHack]

@Tamara in TN;6121856

I have often thought about breeding them specifically here in the States but I don’t think the market will ever be there.

Please call me if you ever do. My current “heavy hunter” is a Norwegian Fjord.

[Tamara_in_TN]

From what I have gathered about the heavy hunters it is less a science that some of the other horse breeding out there…and more luck

don’t know if I could run that way :lol: I’ve ween a welsh head on draft bodies and I’ve seen draft heads on welsh bodies and both results did NOT contribute to the over all fung shui of the animal!!:lol::lol:

Tamara

[Tamara_in_TN]

[QUOTE=TrakHack;6128690]
Please call me if you ever do. My current “heavy hunter” is a Norwegian Fjord. :)[/QUOTE]

and that is what I’m talking about! good bone, kind natures,take a joke…pity they are not 16 hhs:)

Tamara

[Napoles]

@Tamara in TN;6128725

From what I have gathered about the heavy hunters it is less a science that some of the other horse breeding out there…and more luck

Here in Ireland it is a no brainer… the vast majority of heavy hunters have a large percentage of Irish Draught blood.

The top show quality heavy hunters have a lot of bone and size coupled with good movement and quality - i.e. an attractive head and ears, rather than a big, plain, heavy head that can accompany some heavier horses. They also need to be able to extend and gallop on request yet still come back in a mannerly way.

Here is one of my favourite well known heavies:
http://nicomorgan.photoshelter.com/image/I0000VspZSSIC.qs
I saw him show as a four yr old and actually rang up to enquire about him straight after, but he was already sale agreed. Just the most gorgeous big young horse with beautiful movement.

[Tamara_in_TN]

[QUOTE=Napoles;6128753]
They also need to be able to extend and gallop on request yet still come back in a mannerly way.[/QUOTE]

yes-see that is where they just whallop the USA drafts for the most part…the heft and deep pull is there but not the extensions or gallop…

My child is now coming 5’8" plus and only 13 yos so we are going to have to go big or get out :lol::lol:

Tamara

[JSwan]

@Napoles;6128753

They also need to be able to extend and gallop on request yet still come back in a mannerly way.

My Irish horse (from across the pond) has got the extend and gallop on request down pat. Come back in a mannerly way… well…he gets a bit sprightly. Cursing has no effect on him. And least not American curse words. Perhaps that’s the problem. I don’t have the Irish.

[Napoles]

[QUOTE=JSwan;6128771]
My Irish horse (from across the pond) has got the extend and gallop on request down pat. Come back in a mannerly way… well…he gets a bit sprightly. Cursing has no effect on him. And least not American curse words. Perhaps that’s the problem. I don’t have the Irish.[/QUOTE]

Lol!! Well yes, admittedly sometimes the coming back bit can be difficult especially on one of the real big monsters and given the fact that we show the gallop en masse during the show classes it can get a bit exciting sometimes!

[JSwan]

I saw one of the heavy hunter classes, I think on HRTV. I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. Fabulous horses with fabulous riders.